Ukrainian Prime Minister Will Resign Amidst MH17 Chaos

Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk speaks in the parliament in Kiev, Ukraine, Thursday, July 24, 2014. Arseniy Yatsenyuk announced his resignation Thursday, a move that opens the way for new elections that would reflect a the country’s starkly changed political scene after the ouster of pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych in February.
((AP PHOTO/ANDREW KRAVCHENKO, POOL))

Presented by

Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseny Yatseniuk announced his resignation today during a session of parliament. He resigned after two leading parties in parliament said they would leave the governing coalition. He also cited failure to pass energy laws and an increase to the military budget as reasons for leaving.

"I am announcing my resignation in connect with the collapse of the coalition," said Yatsenyuk. He said Parliament could no longer do its work and pass necessary laws.

Of the group of legislators that took over after former President Viktor Yanukovich was ousted, two have pulled out: the nationalist Svoboda party and the Udar party (which is led by well known boxed Vitali Klitschko.) Yatsenyuk has been in office for just five months.

Oleksandr Turchynov, speaker of the parliament, has said Udar and Svoboda are responsible for finding a temporary prime minister until new parliamentary elections can be held.